SUMMARY
The analysis of approaches to the problem of providing the availability of medicines in different countries has been conducted. The complex of socially effective directions to improve the state regulation of drug prices presented in the project of the regulatory act –the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has been developed. It has been proposed to introduce the state registration mechanism for sales prices instead of declaring the changes in wholesale prices; to set the limiting wholesale and retail prices for medicines, to introduce the State Register of prices; to implement the method of reference pricing for drugs, which cost is refundable; to introduce the permanent monitoring of the price system (wholesale, retail and procurement) on essential medicines. As expected, implementation of these measures will increase the availability of medicines to the population.